Frank A. DeVellis

Mr. Frank A. DeVellis, of Waltham, born in Cambridge and former longtime resident of Brighton, died Sunday, September 18, 2022. He was 97.

Frank was born January 8, 1925 a son of Italian immigrants Salvatore and Josephine (Calegna) DeVellis. He was a graduate of Rindge Technical High School and at age 17, Frank enlisted and served with the Coast Guard during World War II. He spent two years on LST 887 in the Pacific Theatre and was wounded in action during the Invasion of Okinawa and awarded the Purple Heart Medal. He married Dorothy Tchakurides on July 16, 1950. Residents of Brighton over sixty years they made Waltham their home seven years ago.

Upon discharge from the service Frank was employed with the federal government and retired after 25 years. After his retirement from the government, he worked as an appraiser and salesman for an antique dealer, Recollections in Brookline, MA.

He was a man of many talents from carpenter to painter to plumber and all around handy-man. One of his greatest passions was fixing things. He would fix and restore pieces of furniture and bring them back to life. As his granddaughters would say "he was Mr. Fix-It".

Frank's greatest pleasure was getting together with family and friends sharing good food, wine, music and conversation. Frank remained active, independent and engaging throughout his life.

He was predeceased by his loving son, John DeVellis and daughter-in-law, Joan DeVellis and his sisters, Mary Nowasielski, Ann Giordano and Jean Trano.

Frank is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 72 years, Dorothy DeVellis and by their daughter, Janice (DeVellis) Crummett and her husband, Ruane; son, David DeVellis and his wife, Nancy and his adored granddaughters, Lindsay DeVellis and her husband, Andrew Witkowski, and Krista De Vellis along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Family and friends will honor and remember Frank's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, September 25th from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday, September 26th before leaving in procession to The Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Brighton.

Memorials in Frank's name may be made to Boston DAV National Service Office | JFK Federal Building | Room 1575B | 15 New Sudbury Street, Boston, MA 02203 (www.davma.org) or St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).